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Utilities face a generational challenge in supporting massive load growth without compromising grid reliability or customer affordability. To meet this challenge, stakeholders have been rapidly innovating around large load interconnection, from engineering studies to interconnection models to cost allocation.

This workshop will introduce utilities and other stakeholders to a range of innovations being pursued, from some of the leading practitioners. It will begin with a review of the state of the data center pipeline today, and a presentation of high/mid/low integrated scenarios for large load growth. This will be followed by panel discussions between utilities, RTOs, and technology companies on the latest interconnection developments from across the country, with ample time reserved for Q&A. Attendees will come away with a firm grasp of where the industry is headed and which models they themselves may want to pursue to drive growth.

Part 1: The large load outlook and new interconnection models (12:30 PM – 2:00 PM)

Strategic planning for large load growth (12:30-1:00)

To open the workshop, we will begin with a review of the landscape of large load growth in the US. Beginning with a review of the data center pipeline today and supply-chain constraints, the presentation will outline Wood Mackenzie’s three long-term scenarios for large load growth, including power plant construction costs, natural gas prices, generation technology mix and annual large load demand. We’ll also consider technology factors, including power quality challenges for co-located generation and developments that could reduce long-term data center demand.

Presenter: Ben Hertz-Shargel, Wood Mackenzie

Interconnection 2.0 (1:00-1:40)

This panel will bring together utilities at the forefront of large load interconnection reform. We will discuss advances in cluster studies, study process automation, and joint planning of load and generation. Best practices will be shared for utilities that are earlier in their large-load journey.

Panelists: Jahnavi Gopi, PG&E; Judson Tillinghast, APS; Nate Rice, Dominion

Scalable interconnection for the AI era (1:40-2:00)

Improving hosting capacity for data centers is a challenge that has rarely progressed past the policy level. This presentation will review Dominion’s transmission hosting capacity platform, which leverages flexible inputs and scenario modeling to automate interconnection planning, and discuss platform enhancements on the roadmap.

Presenters: Nate Rice, Dominion; Brian Bassett, Simple Thread

BREAK (2:00-2:30)

Part 2: Innovating for speed and affordability (2:30 PM – 5:00 PM)

Speed to Reliable Power at the RTO level (2:30-2:50)

RTOs are moving as quickly as utilities to reform planning and interconnection processes to accommodate large-load growth. This presentation will discuss MISO’s Large Load Additions initiative and the Speed to Reliable Power focus area. Learn the essentials of the new ERAS process and zero-injection model for accelerated generated interconnection and the EPR process for large load transmission approval.

Presenter: Jenna Furnish, MISO

A path toward affordable AI (2:50-3:30) 

With customer affordability a topline focus of federal and state regulators, utilities and RTOs are pursuing a range of strategies to solve for reliability and speed-to-power while minimizing cost, particularly for non-large load customers. We’ll hear views on the solution set from RTO, utility and large load developer perspectives.

Moderator: Ben Hertz-Shargel, Wood Mackenzie

Panelists: Justin Felt, Exelon; Gabe Tabek, Verrus; Jenna Furnish, MISO

BREAK (3:30-3:50)

Bring-your-own-customer-capacity (3:50 – 4:20)

Utilities have a unique opportunity to solve for speed-to-power and affordability at the same time by leveraging their own customers as grid service providers. APS and EnergyHub have a long history of turning customer programs into utility-scale grid assets and will discuss how this approach can be further scaled to meet the large-load challenge.

Moderator: Matthew Johnson, EnergyHub

Panelist: Kerri Carnes, APS

Flexibility solutions for data center interconnection (4:20-5:00)

Utilities and large-load developers have a range of options to break the logjam of load interconnection requests by supporting flexible interconnections. We’ll hear about how this works in planning and in operations, and the role that both onsite batteries and third-party VPPs can play in delivering flexibility.

Moderator: Justin Felt, Exelon

Panelists: Sarah Colvin, Camus Energy; Adam Scarsella, Voltus; Gabe Tabak, Verrus

At the conclusion of the workshop, attendees will be invited to stay for an informal networking session with the speakers, which will immediately precede the Opening Reception. 

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